Pressure adjustable pillow

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pressure adjustable pillow, comprising a chamber made of an impermeable material and a cover member. The chamber is defined by a first direction, wherein the internal portion contains fluids. The chamber has three areas, and each area being not connected. Each area contains three sealed sacs along the first direction. Each sac is not linked and is provided according to a general shape of a head. Each sac has a valve. The cover member encloses the chamber. A user is allowed to adjust the amount the fluid in each sac, so as to adjust the pressure received by user&#39;s head to designated strength when the user sleeps on the user&#39;s side or in face-up position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the priority benefits of Taiwan patent application entitled “Pressure Adjustable Pillow” filed on May 17, 2002 serial number 91207131. All disclosures of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a pressure adjustable pillow, and more particularly pertains to a pillow, which allows a user to adjust the support of different portions of the pillow as desired.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0005] A great many kinds of pillows have been devised since ancient time, such as cotton pillow, tea leaves pillow, sponge pillow and latex pillow. Nonetheless, those pillows seem to provide similar pressure and height of head support for various users, despite the fact that different users have different head shapes and sleep preferences. It is undisputable that prior art pillows as mentioned above are not flexible enough to fit the head shapes and meet the sleep preferences of users. Also, prior pillows are not tailor made to meet individual needs.

[0006] Refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a prior art pillow 100 is shown. The pillow contains soft materials 10, and is rectangular. When a user lies on the pillow, the contact surface can be divided into three sections. An area from the user's shoulder to the lower part of ears is defined as a bottom section 21, an area from the lower part of ears to the upper part of ears is defined as a middle section 22, and the an area from the upper part of ears to the top of the head is defined as a top section 23. When a user lies face up as shown in the FIG. 2, the part of the pillow 100 corresponding to the middle section 22 of a head provides the major support for the head, and as a result the corresponding part of the pillow is more recessed. On the other hand, the parts of the pillow 100 corresponding to the top section 23 and the bottom section 21 only partially contact the head. Based on the facts, it is concluded that the support provided by the pillow 100 mainly relies on the contact area between the middle section 22 and the corresponding part of the pillow 100. The support provided by such small contact area is insufficient and often users may find such pillows are uncomfortable to sleep on.

[0007] When a user sleeps on user's side as shown in FIG. 3, it is noted that the part of the pillow 100 corresponding to the middle section 22 of a head provides the better support for the head. The pillow 100 then becomes more recessed as a result of extra contact area of ears comparing to the status in face-up position. But it also means that the support force provided by the pillow 100 may also apply on ears, and squeeze the ears. Moreover, when a user sleeps on user's side, the bottom section 21 is even more far away from the pillow 100. Under the circumstance, the neck of the user will be completely without any support from the pillow 100, and the user may find the pillow uncomfortable to sleep on. Diffusion users have different head shapes. Prior art pillow 100 can not meet specific needs derived from various kinds of head shapes, and consequentially fails to serve as an sleep aid to users.

[0008] In addition, refer to the other kind of prior art pillow 300 made of latex as shown in the FIG. 4, the pillow 300 can be divided into three parts based on the aforementioned three sections of a head. Refer to FIG. 4, it shows that parts of the pillow 300 corresponding to the top section 23 and the bottom section 21 are elevated, and the part of the pillow 300 corresponding to the middle section 22 is recessed. Although latex pillow provides adapts to various head shapes much better than other prior pillows, it is not suited for providing micro level adjustment for individual users. User's specific requirements for pillows remain unmet. Similar circumstances may occur to standardized ready-to-wear clothes. Since sizes are determined by manufacturer's market study, it is often that waist fit size clothes may fail to meet the desired length of users. For users with specific requirements for clothes, tailors provide solutions to meet their request. However, for users with specific requirements for pillows, the issue becomes more complicated. Because each person's head shape changes with time, and sleep preferences also varies according to habits, mood and body conditions, a pillow designed for individual needs is therefore desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure adjustable pillow which allow users to adjust the pressure received by the head from the pillow to meet different needs derived from different head shapes and sleep habits.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pillow which allow users to adjust the pressure received by the head from the pillow to meet different individual pillow preferences.

[0011] Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure adjustable pillow, which has pressure indicator.

[0012] Therefore, in order to realize the objectives above, a pressure adjustable pillow according to the present invention is provided. The pressure adjustable pillow comprises a chamber made of an impermeable material and a cover member. The chamber is defined by a first direction, wherein the internal portion contains fluids. The chamber has a first area, second area and an intermediate area between the first and the second area. Three areas are disposed to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each area is not connected. Each area has three sealed and not linked sacs along the first direction. Each sac has a valve. The valve is used for injecting or releasing fluids in corresponding sacs when required. When injecting fluids, an injection member is required for fluids injecting. When releasing fluids, the valve is probed open to form an outlet. The cover member encloses the chamber. The cover member may completely or partially encloses the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a prior art pillow;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of a user lying face up on the prior art pillow in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of a user sleeping on user's side on the prior art pillow in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the other kind of prior art pillow;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a top schematic view of a pressure adjustable pillow according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the pressure adjustable pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an operating method for a pillow injection member and a valve of the pressure adjustable pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the other kind of injection device of the pressure adjustable pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a side schematic view of a user lying face up on the pressure adjustable pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023]FIG. 10 is a side schematic view of a user sleeping on user's side on the pressure adjustable pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6, a pillow 500 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The pillow 500 has a chamber 50. The chamber 50 is made of impermeable materials such as PVC. The chamber 50 is defined by a first direction 51. The chamber 50 may be injected with fluids such as air or water, while it is air injected in the pillow 500 in the present embodiment. The chamber 50 comprises a first area 60, a second area 62 and an intermediate area 63 between the first area 61 and the second area 62. Each area is not connected. Three areas are disposed to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction 51. Each area 61, 62 and 63 contains three sealed sacs 71-73, 74-76, 77-79 along the first direction 51, respectively. Each sac 71-79 has a valve 65. Each valve 65 can be disposed on the same side of the chamber 50. Pipes can be used to couple the valve to the sacs, or the valve may be disposed on the top of each sac. The linking method is obvious to persons skilled in the art and as a result not repeated in the text.

[0025] The chamber 50 is divided into three areas 61-63 corresponding to different sleep postures such as on users' side, in face-up position etc. Each area 61-63 is installed with three sacs, corresponding to three parts of a head. An area from the user's shoulder to the lower part of ears is defined as a bottom section 21, an area from the lower part of ears to the upper part of ears is defined as a middle section 22, and the an area from the upper part of ears to the top of the head is defined as a top section 23 as shown in FIG. 9. Further details of the implementation will be provided in the following.

[0026] Sacs 71-79 are arranged in the shape of a rectangle. There are three sacs formed on each side of the pillow 500. As shown in FIG. 7, each valve 65 is a check valve. The valve 65 has a valve member 651. A tool probing against the valve member 651 is required to open the check valve 65. If valve member 651 is not probed open, the air pressure from corresponding sacs keeps the check valve 65 in closed state. Detailed operation steps will be given in the following. According to the embodiment, a cover member 66 encloses the chamber 50. In the present embodiment, the cover member 66 is made of latex. The cover member 66 has an undulated upper surface 661. The cover member 66 can be configured to enclose the chamber 50 completely, or enclose the chamber 50 partially as long as it covers the contact surface between user's head and the pillow 500. The purpose of the cover member 66 is to provide a soft support layer between user's head and the chamber 50.

[0027] Refer to FIG. 7, an injection member 8 is incorporated in the embodiment. In the embodiment, air is selected as the fluids injected. Therefore, the injection member 8 is a pump. The injection member 8 made of elastic materials has a squeeze portion 81. The squeeze portion 81 is shaped like an ellipsoid. There is a temporary gas sac 82 inside of the squeeze portion 81. Temporary gas sac 82 has an inlet 821. The inlet 821 is a check valve, which only permits air to flow into the temporary gas sac 82. The air cannot flow out of the temporary gas sac 82 at the inlet 821. Temporary gas sac 82 has an outlet 823. The outlet 823 is also a check valve, which only permits air to flow out of the temporary gas sac 82. The air cannot flow into the temporary gas sac 82 at the outlet 823. There is a pipe 84 at the conjunction part of the outlet 823. The pipe 84 is capable of probing into each valve 65 to open the valve member 651 for opening the valve 65. When a user squeezes the squeeze portion 81, the air in the temporary gas sac 82 then flow into a sac corresponding to the valve 65. When the user releases the squeeze portion 81, the external air then flow into the temporary gas sac 82 at the inlet 821. By repeating steps of squeezing and releasing the squeeze portion 81, the air is injected into corresponding sacs. By doing so, users are allowed to proceed to the air injection operation easily and efficiently.

[0028] Refer to FIG. 8, there is a gas pipe 86′ linked between the squeeze portion 81′ and the pipe 84′, and a pressure indicator 87′ installed on the top of the gas pipe 86′. The design is provided for keep users being aware of the pressure in the sacs and allow users to decide whether to stop the air injection or release the air from the sacs.

[0029] Refer to FIG. 7, when air injection is completed in a sac, the pipe 84 is pulled out of the valve 65, at the same time the valve member 561 then is pushed by the pressure in the sac and close the valve 65. Further details of the above operation are also obvious to ones skilled in the art and are omitted in the text.

[0030] Refer to FIG. 9, when a user lies face up, the user's head lies against the intermediate area 63, and the bottom section 21, the middle section 22 and the top section 23 of the head correspond respectively to the sacs 79, 78, 77. Under the circumstance, the user may inject less air in the sac 78, and inject more air into the sacs 79 and 77. Therefore, when the user lies on the pillow 500, the sacs 79, 77 then have higher air pressure than the sac 78, and keep the cover member 66 elevated. In addition, such configuration provides sufficient support force for the bottom section 21 and the top section 23. Because the sac 78 is injected with less air than the sacs 79, 77, the cover member 66 is kept lower, and does not provide excess support over the middle section 22 of the head.

[0031] Refer to FIG. 10, when a user sleeps on user's side either on the left or right, assuming the using sleeps on user's side on the right, then the head lies on the first area 61, and the bottom section 21, the middle section 22 and the top section 23 of the head correspond respectively to the sacs 73, 72, 71. Under the circumstance, the user may inject less air in the sac 72, and inject more air into the sacs 73 and 71. Therefore, when the user sleeps on user's side, the sacs 73, 71 then have higher air pressure than the sac 72, and keep the cover member 66 elevated. In addition, such configuration provides sufficient support force for the bottom section 21 and the top section 23. Because the sac 72 is injected with less air than the sacs 73, 71, the cover member 66 is kept lower, and does not provide excess support over the middle section 22 of the head. By providing the configuration above, the user's ear is allowed to position properly without being squeezed.

[0032] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user is provided with a pillow giving sufficient and appropriate support, so as to allow the user to have a more comfortable sleep. Users are able to adjust the pressure of a pillow configured according to the present invention based on specific needs by adjusting the air amount in the sacs 71-79. Because the air amount injected in the sacs 71-79 completely depends on user's requirements, thus the present invention is applicable to various users.

[0033] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressure adjustable pillow comprises: a chamber having a first area, a second area and an intermediate area between said first and said second area, each of said area having a plurality of sealed sacs, and each of said sac containing fluid and having a valve; and a cover member at least covering a portion of said chamber; wherein a user is allowed to adjust the amount of said fluid in each of said sac, so as to adjust the pressure received by the head of said user when said user sleeps thereon.
 2. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid is air.
 3. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve is a check valve desired to be open by an injection member.
 4. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover member is made of latex.
 5. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover member has an undulated upper surface.
 6. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber is completed enclosed by said cover member.
 7. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said area has three sacs.
 8. The pressure adjustable pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber is made of an impermeable material. 